Dryer construction



June 9, 1964 Filed Aug. 17. 1961 n. MCDONALD 3,136,612

DRYER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 us I20 N e0 62 5s K60 32 1 ,4o i 28 36 30 -no 6664 34 7 1'6 n2 8O INVENTORI DONALD MCDONALD ATTORNEYS June 9, 1964 D. M DONALD 3,136,612

DRYER CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g IIO INVENTOR: DONALD MCDONALD ATTORNEYS 3,136,612 Patented June 9, 1964 3,136,612 DRYER C NSTRUCTIGN Donald McDonald, 14 Brownsboro Hill,

Louisville 7, Ky.

Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 132,21

9 Claims. or. 34-91 This invention relates to an improved dryer construction.

While the dryer construction of this invention has many uses as Will be apparent hereinafter, one use to which the dryer construction of this invention is particularlyadaptable is to perform a drying function on dishes or the like stacked in a suitable rack or the like in a conventional sink or tub of a conventional kitchen cabinet or the like.

In particular, the conventional kitchen cabinet or the like comprises a structure wherein the sink or tub is supported in an opening formed in the top surface of the cabinet whereby the sink is spaced inwardly from the has a side portion that extends downwardly from the top thereof and is normally spaced from the adjacent side surface of the tub disposed in the cabinet.

by one or more suitably hinged doorswhereby cabinet space is provided below the bottom of the sink or tub.

Since such cabinet structures are substantially conventional in domestic dwellings and the like, the dryer construction of this invention is so constructedand arranged that the same is adapted to be detachably secured to a conventional kitchen cabinet so that the dryer construction can be moved to one position thereof whereby the dryer 1 unit of the dryer construction rests on the top surface of An opening i is formed below the side of the sill and is usually closable proved dryer construction which is readily adapted to be interconnected to a conventional kitchen cabinet carrying a sink or tub.

Other objects,

proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the dryer construction of this invention attached to a conventional kitchen cabinet with'the dryer unit thereof disposed in its drying position.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various parts of the dryer construction of this invention.

dryer construction of this invention mounted to a conventional kitchen cabinet or the like, the" dryer constructionbeing shown in its drying position in full lines and in its out-of-the-way position by dotted lines.

While the various features of this invention are herein after described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to form drying rneans for dishes disposed in a conventional kitchen cabinet sink or the like, it is to be understood that the dryer unit of this invention can be attached to other structures as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, because :the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the 7 bythe reference numeral 14 and is secured to a conven- Thereforqit can be seen that this invention provides a dryer construction which is readily movable to the drying position when desired and can be disposed in an outof-the-way position when not being utilized.

In addition, the dryer construction of this invention is so constructed and arranged that the dryer unit is not only movable to various positions relative to the remainder of thestructure thereof, but it is also detachably secured thereto so that the dryer unit can be taken into other rooms ofthe house or the like. for special drying functions.

For example, when the dryer construction has been moved to the position wherein the dryer unit rests on the sill of the cabinet or the like, the dryer unit can be turned around so that the hot air can be directed ontothe hair of a person sitting in front of the same to dry the hair in a manner similar to a conventional hair dryer. Alternately, the dryer unit can be detached from the dryer construction and taken to another room to perform the hair-drying operation. 1

Further, the dryer unit can be utilized for casual wash drying and other emergency drying of all kinds, as desired, and is apparent hereinafter.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved dryer construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an im- 1 o 4 I a is movable into a plurality of positions.

roved dryer construction in which the dryer unit thereof Afurther object of this invention is to provide an imtional kitchen cabinet 12 in a manner hereinafter described, the kitchen cabinet 12 comprising a top surface l l having a sink or tub 16' disposed therein in a convenv tional manner.

The kitchen cabinet 12 includes a sill 18 having a top surface 20 and a side surface 22, the side surface 22 being spaced. from an adjacent side 24 of the sink 16 in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 3. I.

' Thecabinet 12 has an opening 26 formed therein and disposed below the side 22 of the sill 18, the opening 26 being closable by suitably hinged doors or the like (not shown) in a manner well'known in the art. i

The dryer construction 10 is interconnected to the cabinet 12 in a manner hereinafter described so that the dryer construction 10 is movable tothe position illustrated in FIGURE'l and infull lines in FIGURE 3 to cause hot air or the like to be directed" into the sink 16 to dry dishes. 28 or the like disposed in a suitable rack 30 placed in the sink 16. The dryer construction 10, when no longer utilized, is movable to the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3 whereby the dryer construction 10 is fully disposed within the cabinet 12 so that the doors or the like can close the opening 26 thereof whereby the dryer construction 10 is completely hidden from view and disposed in an out-of-the-way position.

FIGURE 3 comprises a dryer unit 32 interconnected to a means 34 in a manner hereinafter described whereby the dryer unit 32 is rotatable relative to the means 34 and detachably secured thereto.

uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the 16 and the side 22 of the sill 18 and be detachably secured to the side 22 of the sill 18 in a manner hereinafter described whereby the dryer construction is mounted to the cabinet 22.

The dryer unit 32, FIGURE 3 includes a housing 50 having an opening 52 through which air is directed by a conventional fan 54 disposed in the housing 50, the fan 54 directing the air over a heating element 56 before the air flows out of the opening 52 of the dryer unit 32.

In this manner, the fan 54 directs hot air into the sink 16 to perform the aforementioned drying function.

The dryer unit 32 has a lower surface 58 provided with a plurality of pins 60, FIGURE 2, which permit the dryer unit 32 to be detachably secured to the means 34, the means 34 comprising a pair of plate-like members 62 and 64 secured together in a manner hereinafter described. The plate-like member 62 carries a plurality of hook-like members 66 which are adapted to hook over the pins 60 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 to detachably hold the dryer unit 32 to the remainder of the dryer construction 10.

When it is desired to remove the dryer unit 32, the hooks 66 are detached from the pin means 60 whereby the dryer unit 32 can be lifted from the means 34 to be transported to any desired location for any desired purpose.

However, it is to be understood that any other suitable detachable means can be provided for detachably securing the dryer unit 32 to the means 34 of the dryer construction 10.

The plate-like members 62 and 64 respectively have apertures 68 and 7 8 passing centrally therethrough whereby a threaded member 72 is adapted to pass through the apertures 68 and 70 to interconnect the members 62 and 64 together, the threaded member 72 having an enlarged head 74 on one end thereof and a retaining nut 76 on the other end thereof.

When the plate-like members 62 and 64 are interconnected together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 by the threaded member 72, the plate-like member 62 is rotatable relative to the plate-like member 64 whereby the dryer unit 32 can be rotated relative to the plate-like member 64 in a manner that is obvious, the nut 76 of the threaded member 72 being disposed in a recess 78 of the plate-like member 62.

The L-shaped member 38 comprises a retaining portion 80 having a pair of slots 82 and 84 respectively disposed at right angles relative to each other to receive the legs 36 and 44 to form the L-shaped member 38.

The length of the legs 36 and 44 of the L-shaped member 38 is determined by the particular size of the cabinet 12 in a manner hereinafter described whereby the legs 36 and Mean be cut to the desired sizes for a particular cabinet and secured to the retainer 80 by screws 80a or the like.

As previously stated, the leg 36 of the L-shaped member 38 is hinged to the means 34 by a hinge member 40 having one leg thereof secured to the plate-like member 64 and the other leg thereof interconnected to the leg 36 of the L-shaped member 38. A spring means 42 tends to hold the means 34 in the hinged position illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the dryer unit 32 is held on top of :the sill 18, as illustrated, by the spring means 42.

The clamping portion 46 of the dryer construction It) includes an L-shaped member 86 comprising a pair of legs 88 and 90 interconnected together and disposed at right angles relative to each other.

The clamping member 46 also includes another mem ber 92 having a suitably shaped face 94 adapted to abut the side 24 of the sink 16 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3. The member 92 has a plurality of pins 96 or the like projecting downwardly therefrom and received in elongated slots 98 formed in the leg of the L- shaped member 86 whereby the member 92 is movable relative to the leg 88 of the L-shaped member 86.

The members 86 and 92, forming the clamping portion 46, are interconnected together by a threaded member 100 passing through a suitable aperture 102 in the leg 88 of the L-shaped member 86 and threadedly received in a retainer 104 carried by the member 92. In this manner, the member 92 can be pushed relative to the leg 88 of the L-shaped member 86 to any desired spaced position.

The free end of the threaded member 180 is adapted to pass through a suitable aperture 106 formed through the side 22 of the sill 18 whereby a nut 108 is adapted to interconnect the clamping portion 46 of the dryer construction 18 to the cabinet 12.

Since the leg 90 of the L-shaped member 86 of the clamping portion 46 is hinged to the leg 44 of the L-shaped member 38 by the hinge 48, the entire dryer construction 18 is secured to the cabinet 12 by the clamping portion 46 thereof.

A threaded member 116 is interconnected to the leg 36 of the L-shaped member 38 and projects inwardly therefrom, a suitable bumper 112 being threadedly secured to the threaded member 110 so that the position of the bumper 112 relative to the leg 36 can be varied by rotating the bumper 112 on the threaded member 110.

In this manner, the bumper 112 can be so spaced relative to the leg 36 of the L-shaped member 38 that the bumper 112 is adapted to abut the side 22 of the sill 18 when the dryer construction 10 is moved to the drying position illustrated in FIGURE 3. Preferably, the bumper 112 has a central recess 114 formed therein which readily receives the nut 108 and free end of the threaded member 108 when the bumper 112 is disposed in the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 3 so that the bumper 112 can abut the side 22 of the sill 18 to rigidify the dryer construction 10 in its drying position.

Therefore, it can be seen that the dryer construction 10 of this invention can be constructed in a relatively simple and effective manner whereby the dryer construction 10 can be secured to a conventional kitchen cabinet 12 or the like to perform a desired drying function.

When the dlyer construction 10 is moved from the outof-the-way position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, the dryer unit 32 is adapted to clear the top 20 of the sill 18 because the dryer unit 32 and means 34 can be pivoted relative to the leg 36 of the L-shaped member 38 by the hinge 40 to permit the means 34 to clear the top 20 of the sill 18. Thereafter, the means 34 and dryer unit 32 is moved downwardly against the top 20 of the sill 18 by the spring means 42 of the hinge 40 to hold the dryer unit 32 in its drying position as illustrated in full lines in FIGURES l and 3.

When it is desired to move the dryer construction 10 from the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 3 to the out-of-the-way position illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, the dryer unit 32 and means 34 is pivoted relative to the leg 36 of the L-shaped member 38 so that the dryer unit 32 and means 34 can clear the top 20 of the sill 18. Thereafter, the entire dryer construction 10 is pivoted about the hinge 48 to cause the dryer construction 18 to move into the opening 26 of the cabinet 12 whereby the dryer construction 18 can be fully disposed within the cabinet 12 and the doors can be closed to close the opening 20 thereof.

As long as the hinged point 48 of the dryer construction 10 is disposed half way or less than half way between the front and rear of the cabinet 12, the dryer construction 18 can be fully disposed within the opening 26 thereof in a manner illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3.

Therefore, it can be seen that an improved dryer construction has been provided by this invention which is adapted to perform its drying function in a conventional manner and be disposed in an out-of-the-way position when not being utilized.

Further, the dryer unit 32 of this invention can be saved to any desired rotational position when disposed in its drying position as well as be removed completely from the remainder of the dryer construction 1 when desired.

in addition to being readily adapted to new sink construction the present dryer construction, due to its adjustable features, is particularly adapted to fit any existing sink construction and can be readily installed without the necessity of hiring a plumber or carpenter since it is only necessary to drill a single aperture 11%, see FIGURE 3, in the side of the sink sill for mounting the device thereon. The fact that the device can be readily folded or disassembled permits it to be packaged in a relatively small container which facilitates shipping and sales purposes.

To facilitate drying cups, glasses, small saucers, silverware, etc., there is also provided a drying rack comprising spaced closed side members lid and 118 which support between them a horizontal screen surface 129. In use, the rack is abutted against a Wall 122 located behind the sink basin l6 and the articles placed upon the screen surface 1%. In this manner air is caused to flow into the sink 16 to dry the dishes 28 or the like disposed in rack 39 contained in the tub or sink and then upwardly through the screen 129 to dry the cups, glasses, etc, supported thereon.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the patent statute, other forms may be used all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a cabinet having a sill and having an opening disposed below said sill, a tub carried by said cabinet and having a side spaced from the inside surface of said sill, and a dryer construction having a clamping portion thereof disposed between said side of said tub and said inside surface of said sill, said clamping portion being interconnected to said sill, said dryer construction having an L-shaped member, one leg of said L-shaped'member being secured to said clamping portion, the other leg of said L-shaped member being secured to means adapted to rest on top of said sill, said dryer construction including a dryer unit secured to said means and having means for directing hot air on dishes and the like disposed in said tub.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dryer unit is rotatably mounted to said means adapted to rest on top of said sill.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dryer unit is detachably secured to said means adapted to rest on top of said sill.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one leg of said L-shaped member is hinged to said means adapted to rest on top of said sill.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one leg of said L-shaped member is hinged to said means adapted to rest on top of said sill, and spring means to hold said means adapted to rest on top of said sill against said sill.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping portion is hinged to said other leg of said L- shaped member.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one leg of said Lshaped member carries a bumper adapted to abut the outer surface of said sill.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping portion comprises two members movable relative to each other and operatively interconnected together by means interconnected to said sill.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping portion comprises a first member and a second member, said first member being substantially L-shaped and having slot means in one leg thereof, said second member having pin means disposed in said slot means to interconnect said first and second members together and permit said second member to be movable relative to said first member, and wherein means are interconnectedto said sill and carried by said first and second members to cause movement between said first and second members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,847,256 Nielsen Mar. 1, 1932 2,197,178 Gates Apr. 16, 1940 2,281,370 Morrison Apr. 28, 194-2 2,549,106 Manacher Apr. 17, 1951 2,580,619 Thomas Jan. 1, 1952 2,641,697 Brodbeck June 9, 1953 2,645,034 Hupp July14, 1953 2,666,837 Brodbeck June 19, 1954 FORElGN PATENTS 669,559 France Aug. 5, 1929 645,844 Great Britain Nov. 8, 1950 

1. IN COMBINATION, A CABINET HAVING A SILL AND HAVING AN OPENING DISPOSED BELOW SAID STILL, ATUB CARRIED BY SAID CABINET AND HAVING A SIDE SPACED FROM THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID STILL, AND A DRYER CONSTRUCTION HAVING A CLAMPING PORTION THEREOF DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SIDE OF SAID TUB AND SAID INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID SILL, SAID CLAMPING PORTION BEING INTERCONNECTED TO SAID SILL, SAID DRYER CONSTRUCTION HAVING AN L-SHAPED MEMBER, ONE LEG OF SAID L-SHAPED MEMBER BEING SECURED TO SAID CLAMPING PROTION, THE OTHER LEG OF SAID L-SHAPED MEMBER BEING SECURED TO MEANS ADAPTED TO REST ON TOP OF SAID SILL, SADI DRYER CONSTURCTION INCLUDING A DRYER UNIT SECURED TO SAID MEANS AND HAVING MEANS FOR DIRECTING HOT AIR ON DISHES AND THE LIKE DISPOSED IN SAID TUB. 